Minimum Dietary Diversity and Associated Factors among Lactating Mothers in Ataye District, North Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Low dietary diversity superimposed with poor-quality monotonous diets is a major problem that often results in undernutrition, mainly micronutrient deficiencies. However, there is limited evidence on minimum dietary diversity and associated factors among lactating mothers in resource-poor settings, including the study area. Therefore, the objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity and associated factors among lactating mothers in Ataye District, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used among 652 lactating mothers aged 15–49 years from January 25 to April 30, 2018. Dietary diversity was measured by the minimum dietary diversity indicator for women (MDD-W) using the 24-hour dietary recall method. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.2.0.0 and exported to the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 24 for analysis using the logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of minimum dietary diversity among lactating mothers was 48.8% (95% CI: (44.7%, 52.9%). Having formal education ((AOR = 2.16, 95% CL: (1.14, 4.09)), a final say on household purchases ((AOR = 5.39, 95% CI: (2.34, 12.42)), home gardening practices ((AOR = 2.67, 95% CI: (1.49, 4.81)), a history of illness ((AOR = 0.47, 95% CI: (0.26, 0.85)), good knowledge of nutrition ((AOR = 5.11, 95% CI: (2.68, 9.78)), being from food-secure households ((AOR = 2.96, 95% CI: (1.45, 6.07)), and medium ((AOR = 5.94, 95% CI: (2.82, 12.87)) and rich wealth indices ((AOR = 3.55, 95% CI: (1.76, 7.13)) were significantly associated with minimum dietary diversity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of minimum dietary diversity among lactating mothers was low in the study area. It was significantly associated with mothers having a formal education, final say on the household purchase, home garden, good knowledge of nutrition, history of illness, food-secure households, and belonging to medium and rich household wealth indices. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the mother's decision-making autonomy, nutrition knowledge, household food security, and wealth status.